Conference Update!

We want to update you on 2017 happenings! We are disappointed to not see old friends and meet new ones at conferences this spring but we have been working hard on a new revision to MerrieNan Melodies and it is not yet ready for the roll out SO. . . no conferences this spring. We should be back next year!

Below are reactions from prior conferences. They are so fun and go by quickly as we explain MerrieNan Melodies and how easy it is to use to teach and learn how to play the piano.

More Conference Fun!

Summer fulfilled on its promise of more outreach fun when Betty Todd Smith, Olathe piano teacher extraordinaire, and Merrie traveled to Chicago the end of July to attend and present at the 2015 National Conference on Keyboard Pedagogy. The hosting organization was the Frances Clark Center for Keyboard Pedagogy. Frances Clark’s name is spoken with admiration by her followers. We feel she would have been open to our innovative approach as her guidelines included exploring new and successful ways to learn to play the piano.

A highlight was sharing MerrieNan Melodies with Dennis Alexander, composer for Alfred Music. Dennis is the brother of Merrie’s college chum Cyndie Alexander so this was a special treat. Dennis was given a lifetime achievement award at the Friday night banquet; piano teachers will recognize his wonderful body of work. Cyndie always said her brother could “really play the piano.” Indeed!

Our annual conference season was also busy this past spring with three conferences. This was the fifth year that MerrieNan Melodies hosted a booth at the Kansas Music Educators Association (KMEA) annual gathering KMEA In-Service Workshop in Wichita, KS. It is always gratifying to meet old friends and talk with new converts to the MNM way to teach music. Limited funds for education is a current reality in the state of Kansas so many who would have liked to start MNM have to postpone their desire to add MNM to their music curriculum.

Homeschoolers are our new best friends! We appreciate their enthusiasm and purpose-driven approach to giving their children the best education they can. We hosted a booth in Wichita for the Teaching Parents Association (TPA). We appreciated their openness to something new to support their children’s music education. We will definitely go back next year! Another return visit also is warranted for the Midwest Parent Educators (MPE) Conference held in Kansas City. We met more caring parents who saw the potential in our materials. We were pleased to be able to present at MPE. We even had one devoted fan tell us, “I drove an hour back today only to attend your presentation and buy your materials!”

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I just want to say that I am very impressed with the MerrieNan Melodies curriculum [my children’s teacher] has been using in music class. My three children take piano lessons and I have seen great improvement in their recognition of notes when reading music. My daughter who is a first grader has excelled in her first lessons. My sons have continued to grow musically and the musical foundation provided by MerrieNan has helped tremendously. I attribute their musical progress to the practice you have been doing in music class. Thank you for sharing your love of music with my children.